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Plarail November 1983 Catalogue

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The cover of the Plarail catalogues between 1981 and 1983 were all the same, showing two Tohoku Joetsu Shinkansens and a Blue Train on the front with several more cool trains of the era like the two-speed Express Train on the rear as well as the November 1983 print date on the rear. There was a previous May 1983 catalogue earlier in the year. I think most of the catalogue is the same as the May printing, at least the train lineup and the scenery parts, and the layout ideas and several other pages are shared between the 1981-1983 catalogues, so it may just be a direct reprint.

The first two pages were present in all of the early 1980s catalogues. The first page talks a little bit about how Plarail is made from safe materials and inspires children's creativity. The opposite page talks about how the Plarail rail standard has not changed in the 20 years since Plarail began and that the easiest way to start is with any set.

The train lineup is unchanged from the May 1983 catalogue and includes the two Melody trains, the D-51 and Tohoku Joetsu Shinkansen. Many classic and sought after old power trains like the Sleeper Express, Express Train, and Skyliner were on sale as well as classics like the L Limited Express, Tokai Type Train, Hikari with Light, and many more...

Rails at the time featured a fairly wide range of older types of rail like large radius curves, the foundations of the double track system, and older sloped bridge rails and joint rails.

Many classic Plarail stations like the Country Station, Plateau Station, Subway Station, and Station Platform. New in the May 1983 catalogue were the Family Dolls, shown in the catalogue in prototype form with an earlier design on the faces. The New Turntable, Big Iron Bridge, Cross Drawbridge, and many more classic accessories are on offer.

The early 1980s catalogues all show the same layouts at the end - they can also be seen in my scans of the 1982 Plarail Catalogue and were updated when the cover changed in 1984.

A larger layout with Double Track Point Rails and the New Point Machine and two elevated portions.

A neat layout that I think I could probably build myself, including the trains and even the trees...